18 COCOA AND CHOCOLATE. 



Bucare, a tree of rapid growth, that serves 

 to shade the soil as well as to shield the 

 young trees from the torrid sun. Small 

 permanent trenches must be maintained 

 from tree to tree throughout the entire 

 length of the rows, so that, at least once 

 in the week, the stream, descending from 

 the mountains, may be turned into these 

 little channels and bear needful moisture 

 to trees and soil. At the age of five years 

 the plantation begins to bear fruit, and 

 annually yields two crops, that ripening in 

 June being termed the crop of San Juan, 

 and that maturing .at Christmas being 

 known as the crop of La Navidad. The 

 average age to which the trees attain, 

 under proper care, may be estimated at 

 forty years, during which period it will 

 give fair to full crops of fruit ; but of 

 course it must be understood that, as in 

 our fruit-orchards, a new tree must be set 

 from time to time to replace one that may 

 be decayed or blighted. After careful 



